4.03.2006

Aviation's future -- pilotless planes

Aviation's future -- pilotless planes: "Since 1997, unmanned aircraft have been used in U.S. airspace primarily by the military. But now the government wants to fly more of them to patrol the nation's borders, catch criminals, monitor the environment and assist in disaster relief.

Some companies think pilotless planes have a vast commercial potential for uses that range from crop dusting to weather prediction."

As appealing as this sounds (and today's planes can essentially fly without the pilot anyway) there will NEVER be completely pilotless planes. Humans will need to be on board as backup. Passengers wouldn't stand for it.